Tibial baseplate assembly for knee joint prosthesis

Abstract

Apparatus for reconstructing a joint, the apparatus comprising: an implant body having a bone contacting surface; and a plurality of fixation elements secured to the implant body and extending into the host bone at a plurality of angles, wherein all angles are not equal to one another, so as to create immediate stability between the implant body and the host bone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for reconstructing a joint, the apparatus comprising:
 an implant body having a bone contacting surface; and   a plurality of fixation elements secured to the implant body and extending into the host bone at a plurality of angles, wherein all angles are not equal to one another, so as to create immediate stability between the implant body and the host bone.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the fixation elements is removably secured to the implant body. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the fixation elements is fixedly secured to the implant body. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the fixation elements is secured to the implant body in a retrograde manner. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the fixation elements is secured to the implant body in an antegrade manner. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the implant body comprises a porous coating. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the fixation elements comprises a porous coating. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the fixation elements are selected from the group consisting of a stem, a post, a peg and a screw. 
     
     
         9 . A method for reconstructing a joint, the method comprising:
 providing apparatus comprising:
 an implant body having a bone contacting surface; and 
 a plurality of fixation elements to be secured to the implant body and extend into the host bone at a plurality of angles, wherein all angles are not equal to one another, so as to create immediate stability between the implant body and the host bone; 
   positioning the implant body against a host bone; and   creating immediate stability between the implant body and the host bone using the plurality of fixation elements.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein at least one of the fixation elements is removably secured to the implant body after the implant body is positioned against the host bone. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein at least one of the fixation elements is fixedly secured to the implant body before the implant body is positioned against the host bone. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein at least one of the fixation elements is secured to the implant body in a retrograde manner. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein at least one of the fixation elements is disposed in the host bone before the implant body is positioned against the host bone. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the implant body comprises a bore for receiving a fixation element, and further wherein the fixation element is disposed in the host bone with a disposition which is offset from the disposition of the bore, such that when the fixation element is received in the bore, the fixation element applies a compressive force against the host bone, which in turn creates a compressive force across the bone-implant interface. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein at least one of the fixation elements is secured to the implant body in an antegrade manner after the implant body is positioned against the host bone. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the implant body comprises a porous coating. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein at least one of the fixation elements comprises a porous coating. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the fixation elements are selected from the group consisting of a stem, a post, a peg and a screw. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus for reconstructing the knee joint, the apparatus comprising:
 a tibial baseplate; and   at least two fixation elements for securing the tibial baseplate to a bone, wherein the at least two fixation elements are secured to the tibial baseplate and extend into the tibia at angles which are not parallel to one another.   
     
     
         20 . A method for reconstructing the knee joint, the method comprising:
 providing apparatus comprising:
 a tibial baseplate; and 
 at least two fixation elements for securing the tibial baseplate to a bone, wherein the at least two fixation elements are secured to the tibial baseplate and extend into the tibia at angles which are not parallel to one another; 
   positioning the tibial baseplate against a resected tibia; and   securing the tibial baseplate to the resected tibia using the at least two fixation elements, wherein the at least two fixation elements are secured to the tibial baseplate and extend into the tibia at angles which are not parallel to one another.   
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the at least two fixation elements are inserted into the host bone before the tibial baseplate is positioned against the resected tibia, and further wherein the at least two fixation elements are secured to the tibial baseplate after the tibial baseplate has been positioned against the resected tibia.